★JANIE★

The bright morning sun flashed in rays through my slightly parted curtains. Birds chirped outside my window, and from the bustling activities in our neighbor's yard, I could tell that it was already morning.

However, I couldn't sleep.

My eyes were sore and heavy, yet I didn't get a single sleep because I was awake all night, contemplating why Luciano would want me as his girlfriend.

Expelling a weary sigh, I dragged myself to a sitting position and my eyes met with my reflection on the mirror, facing me. The girl staring back at me seemed worn out. She had dark circles beneath her eyes and her face appeared gloomy.

Was this all because of Luciano's terms? I thought to myself.

Sighing again for the umpteenth time, I hauled to my feet and then trudged towards the bathroom. My mind kept pondering the odds of rejecting his offer and the aftermath as I brushed my teeth, splashed some water on my face then left my room to the living room.

Upon approaching the living room, I could hear noises emanating from there, like they were busy arranging something, and their indistinct voices. Only for me to get there to find Mrs Isobel bringing out dishes from the kitchen to the dining table, Chelsea arranging the table while Noel and his father, Alan sat down, discussing with someone.

"Oh look the birthday girl is awake! Good morning, Janie." Mrs Isobel squeaked the moment she noticed me by the entrance between the long corridor and the living room, and everyone's attention turned to me, including the person discussing with Mr Alan and my breath hitched.

What?

Luciano?

Batting my lashes in confusion, I wondered what Luciano was doing here this morning. His motive for showing up in front of this family and if there was something sinister he was planning this time. But his lips just curved into a smirk as his eyes met mine.

I froze to bits.

My eyes traveled from Mr Alan to Noel, to Chelsea and Mrs Isobel. Were they aware of his presence or it was just me? How come he sat in the living area, discussing with Mr Alan like he was his business associate?

Almost at once, my mind began to run wild. I was trying to piece things up in my head but nothing seemed reasonable at the moment.

"Don't just stand there, Janie. Join us for breakfast." Mrs Isobel pressed, jolting me out of my series of thoughts.

My eyes didn't leave Luciano for once as I slowly strutted towards the dining table and then perched on an empty chair.

As soon as I sat down beside Mrs Isobel, she issued me a casual smile. "I decided not to wake you up this morning because you seem exhausted from your birthday events yesterday."

"Thank you for everything you guys did yesterday," I said, feigning a small smile. But my eyes remained fixated on Luciano, who still had that dark smirk plastered on his face.

"Janie...." Mr Alan cleared his throat. "....Didn't you recognize your uncle?" He asked, pointing at Luciano and I could swear that my jaw dropped to the ground in profound shock.

Uncle?

My eyes widened as I stared at Luciano, who seemed to find this situation pretty amusing then at Noel, before bringing my eyes back to Mr Alan.

"I thought you said you were her uncle, Mr Lucien." Mr Alan inquired after noticing the weird dynamic between us.

Luciano cleared his throat. "Of course. I guess she is still in shock because she's just setting her eyes on me after a long time." With a smug smile on his face, he added. "I was her favorite uncle back then. She must have thought she wouldn't see me again because I traveled to Asia."

What in the actual world of lies? My heart plummeted into my guts immediately.

"Oh, that's true." I saw Mrs Isobel and Mr Alan agreeing with his words, while Noel just seemed casual about the whole thing.

"At least say hi to your Uncle, Janie." Mrs Isobel cued.

Just to play along with everything and not blow the cover until I figured out what Luciano was planning, I faked a smile and said. "Hi, Uncle. It's been a long time and I've missed you so much."

The lines at the corner of Luciano's eyes creased as he smiled. "I miss you too."

And I almost went nuts. What the fuck?

"Let's start digging in." Mrs Isobel declared after serving out our breakfast onto our plates.

While Mr Alan began. "So tell us Mr Lucien, how did you find Janie here? Why did it take you so long to return, and your motive for returning."

My eyes moved between Mr. Alan and Luciano as my supposed uncle started to explain. "Well....I work for the intelligence corps and I have been tracking Janie for a while after her father said she went missing."

"Her father?" Mr. Alan reiterated after him while I rubbed my sweaty palms against my thighs because the lies I told were about to come crashing at my face. "I thought he was dead?" Mr Alan queried.

Everyone's eyes drifted in my direction. Including Luciano who narrowed his gaze into mere slits before stating.

"Yes. I wasn't done speaking. Her father frantically searched for her and after it proved abortive, he came to me for help. It was during the whole period the search was being conducted, that he passed. He begged me to find his daughter on his deathbed. So I didn't relent. One time, I managed to get a hold of her cellphone, so I sent her a message informing her of his death and asked to meet up. But then I lost the signals. So Janie what happened?" Luciano asked me.

And I swallowed hard. I could not believe he wanted me to aid him in his lies. Regardless, I went ahead to add.

"I destroyed the phone two months ago so my abductor won't find me."

Luciano's brows furrowed. "You were kidnapped? Oh for real? I thought you were just being a rebellious teenager and you decided to leave home. I'm so sorry you went through that." Luciano stretched out while I tossed him a glare.

"Back to what I was saying, Mr Alan. During this process of finding her, I was able to figure out that she was given admission to NYU, hoping she'd resume but she didn't. So I met with the dean to defer her admission and transfer her to UC Berkeley. I stalked her social media one day and thankfully, it led me here. So my main motive is to give her the life she has always wanted and that admission in UC Berkeley, which is why I came here." He explained thoroughly and I was left dumbstruck.

Luciano deserved the world's best award for lying. Or rather he could pass well for a con artist, because what the actual fuck?

"Well said." Mr Alan chipped. "You must have taken the effort of finding your niece as your topmost priority and I commend you for that."

"Thank you, Mr Alan," Luciano replied with the most formidable smile I'd ever seen.

Reluctantly digging into my food, I tossed Luciano a quizzical look while he now discussed my kidnap with Mr. Alan, sparing me a 'you told them?' look alongside.

He feigned pity when Mr Alan mentioned the condition he found me on the highway and Luciano even swore to track down my abductor.

Someone, please whisk me away because this cannot be happening right before my very own eyes.

With time, they moved from the conversation about my kidnap to some random chitchats. Luciano tossed me a smile on several occasions and he even offered to pass the remaining chicken in front of him to Chelsea.

And I was wondering why I had never seen this side of him. A bubbly, cheerful, and entertaining side.

Wasn't he the same person that threatened to kill this whole family two days ago, if I didn't do his bidding?

Luciano even offered to wash the dirty dishes as a way of showing appreciation, but Mrs Isobel politely declined, saying he was their guest.

While I huffed under my breath.

Thank goodness they didn't let him wash the plates, because I could not picture a whole mafia King standing in the kitchen, washing a pile of dirty dishes.

"Instead of washing the plates, Mr Lucien. You can go ahead and take a look at her room." Mrs Isobel offered. "She is a lovely girl and we've been happy to have her here. Janie, can you please show him your room?"

I was just about to decline, saying that wasn't necessary but Luciano jolted to his feet, ready to go.

He seemed to be enjoying this too much.

With an awkward smile, I shuffled to my feet and then led him to my room, as though he had never been there before.

He followed right behind me without saying a word.

I was preparing to give him a verbal lashing once inside my room, but the second we entered my room, he slammed the door shut and claimed my lips, shoving those unsaid words into the back of my throat.